Structural member



y 1953 A. J. FITZGERALD I 2,639,012

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed Oct. 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inv en'of; Albert J. Fitz'ge raid,

May 19, 1953 I A. J. FITZGERALD STRUCTURAL MEMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1946 Inventor: Albert -J. Fitzgerald,

His Att orney Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-ice Albert J. Fitzgerald, Syracuse, N. Y; assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 11, 1946, Serial Nn-.- 702,323

(Cl. lee-42) 16 Claims.

My invention relates to structural members and particularly to members comprising a desired number of longitudinal elements bound, laced or woven together by transverse strands. I More particularly, my invention relates" to a structural member comprising a plurality of angle, channel or similarly shaped longitudinal elements, preferably of metal,*plastic or similar material, held together by transverse strands and separated by spacer members.

An object or my invention is to provide a structural member not Subject to rattling or chat tering when subjected to" vibration.

A further object of myinvention is to provide a struetural member which is strong and light in weight, which may be simply and ineii'pen sivel'y fabricated of any of a large number of materials, or combinations of materials, and which lends itself to a variety of purposes and designs.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with-particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a front perspective view and Fig. 2' a back perspective view of one embodiment of the invention comprising a structural member suitable for use as a grille, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of a locomotive incorporating a'grille of the type of Figs. 1 and 2 .Fi'g. 4 shows a grille-like member of the general type of Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 5 is aperspee tive view of a machine suited to the fabrication of the structural member shown in Figs. 1, 2 and l, and Figs. 6, '7, and 8 are views of certain'other modified forms of structural members, differing from the types of Figs. 1, 2 and 4 principally in that each spacer member successivelycontacts several transverse strands, rather than extending betweenand around only two strands.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a grille-like structural member is shown in front and rear perspective views, repectively, comprising elongated longitudinal elements I in the form of angle members with curved front faces I" which may be ofmetal, plastic, wood or other inaterialpos'sessing desired strength and stiffness characteristics. lnterposed between adjaoent longitudinal members i are-spacersZ of a resilient material, such as spring steel. The longitudinal elements-ar held together against iiiieans.

the spacers by transverse strands, or holding members 3, fastened at the ends under tension to the upper and lower longitudinal elements. A suitable fastening may be made, if the strands 3 are of metal wire, for example, by turning over the end of each strand as it extends through openings such as sands in the top and bottom elements. If the strands are of string or rope, or are made from a brittle material, other methods of fastening-would be more suitable.

The transverse strands are pulled toward each other by the action of spacers 2. To accomplish this, the spacers are formed of a resilient ma -,ter-ial and have bentover or hooked portionst and l which partially surround the strands. The

spacers are preformedwith a substantial curvature and being of spring material, tend to return to a more curved condition than that in which To this end, the spacing of the end portions of each spacer-is smaller than or generally different from the distance between a corresponding pair of openings in an adjacent "longitudinal element. The spacers, therefore, exert lateral tension on the strands through the hooked portions 6' and I. in other words; the end portions of each spacer are spaced an amount that is relatedto the dis tance between the points of engagement of a pair of transverse strands with a longitudinal member and the" thickness of the strands by a predetermined inequality. Stated in still another way, since the distance between the end portions of each's'pacer is different from any arithmetic combination of the distancebetween the points of engagement and the thickness of strands, the

strands are ileiied and biased against the side of each of the openings provided in the longitudinal elements for their passage. 'In this'way the members 3 aet' h'oidin g, or anti-vi ration member's securely binding the members I, 2 and 3 against vibration. p

To provide '9. finished appearance for the structural member, an efid'clos'ure 8 in the form of an angi member may be provided as shown. Suitable bolts and lugs 9 are provided to furnish means for mounting the end closure tdthe longitudinaleleinents. 'A bottom closur in may also be provided and may be held'in' place by I As shown in Fig.2'a cotter pin and washer at the lower end of tie rod Ii cooperate with mg '12 welded to the bottom clo'sijirenie iiper la canola the member in posit on. The

tie rod additionally serves as a convenient means tor mounting the structure. Nut I3 is tightened to hold the and structure securely tsgether, channel members I4 being preferably provided between certain longitudinal members to prevent distortion or crumpling of the upper and lower longitudinal elements. Clamp IS with a hooked end portion for cooperation with the tie rod H and a suitable bolt or screw opening in the fiat extended portion is shown positioned so that a mounting bolt inserted in the elongated opening could be used to tighten the clamp against a bulkhead or other desired member. Assuming that the bulkhead were fiat, the tie rod, and consequently the longitudinal elements, would be held firmly against the bulkhead since the hooked end of the clamp is so proportioned that the portion of the clamp carrying the bolt opening would lie slightly away from the surface of the bulkhead until bolted thereto.

The large round openings provided in each spacer better adapts the structure of Figs. 1 and 2 to use as a grille for a locomotive, such as IS in Fig. 3, providing a strong, rattle-free, lightweight grille which will allow relatively free passage of air and which is attractive in appearance.

The grille shown in Fig. 4 makes use of flatsided angle members for longitudinal elements I, and the round openings in spacers 2 are omitted to form a grille of cheaper construction than that of Figs. 1 and 2. The end and bottom closure members have also been omitted since they are not essential to the invention.

' Various other modifications for a grille of this general type will be suggested to those skilled in the art, such as utilizing curved or bowed longitudinal elements to form grilles of the general appearance of those used as automobile radiator grilles.

A machine for fabrication of structural members according to my invention is shown in Fig. 5 as. it would appear in use for makin an article of the type shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The machine comprises a framework, which may be constructed of channel or angle iron members, including parallel spaced end members [6 and I1 and cross members l8 welded or bolted between end members l6 and l l. Transverse strand holding blocks l9 and 20 are bolted to the respective end members, being made adjustable to permit different types of structural members to be fabricated.

In setting up the machine for fabrication of a structural member, the transverse strands 3 are tensioned between blocks 19 and 20. The end of one strand is inserted through opening 2| in block [9 and then through opening 22 and doubled back around rod 23 through opening 22. The dimensions of opening 22 and the stiffness of the strand and diameter of rod 23 are so pro:- portioned as to prevent slippage of the strand under tension. The other'end of this strand is threaded through the openings provided in each of the longitudinal members I, which are arranged along the cross member of the machine held in alignment by tie rod I I After threading through the longitudinal members, the strand is inserted through opening 24 in block 20 in a collar 25 held loosely in position within the'block. The end is then taken through opening 26 and doubled back around the top-of the back edge of .block 20 and reinserted through collar 25. End 21 may then be pulled taut with a pair of pliers or other suitable tool and bent upwardly as shown to maintain the strand under partial tension. Other transverse strands are similarly arranged under a slight tension, it being understood that normally more than the two strands shown n Fig. 5 would be provided. A lever operated cam tensioning arrangement is provided in block I9, comprising a pivoted cam portion 28 for cooperation with the transverse strands and an actuating lever 29. Since the transverse strands may be held at different distances above the end member IS, the cam surfaces in engagement with different strands may be of different heights as shown in Fig. 5. Partial rotation of the cam member 28 by pulling handle or lever 29 in the direction of the arrow will be seen to increase the tension of the transverse strands.

To position the spacers and complete the construction of the structural member, a first longitudinal element, which may be the top member of the completed structure, is slid along the strands 3 from the group of elements adjacent block 19 to a position near block 20. The strands are manually or otherwise pulled toward each other between the first element and the group of ele ments remaining near block 20 and the hooked portions 6 and I of a spacer 2 are hooked about the-respective strands, holding them somewhat closer. together than the openings provided in members I. The spacer is then driven home, using, for instance, a rubber or leather faced mallet, along the strands up to the first longitudinal element adjacent block 20. As the spacer reaches this element, the original curvature will be somewhat flattened, and this deformation will be increased as the second longitudinal element is now driven home against the spacer. In this condition the spacer exerts lateral tension on the transverse strands tending to pull them together, due to the deformation of the resilient spacer, but the openings provided for the transverse strands in the longitudinal elements hold the strands apart against this tension. The strands are thus laterally tensioned against the inside edges of the openings in the longitudinal elements, that is, the edges nearest each other. The next spacer is applied by hooking portions 5 and "I over the transverse strands near the mid-point between blocks l9 and 20, as shown in Fig. 5. This second spacer is then driven home against the second longitudinal element and the third element is driven up to the spacer. The process continues until two more spacers have been applied and all of the spacers and longitudinal elements are together near the block 2G. The structure may now be removed from the machine by cutting the transverse strands just beyond the outer longitudinal elements and bending the ends against the outer elements to bind the structure together. There is now substantially no, or very little, longitudinal tension in the transverse strands. These strands now serve as binding, or holding, elements securely binding the grille members I to the spacer members 2 under the stresses caused by the inherent resilience of the spacer members which are distorted from their unstressed form. In this way vibration between the grille members and spacer members is prevented. The toe rod 5 l and reinforcing members l4 maybe applied to the structure before or after removal from the machine. Clamp l5 may be slipped over the tie rod at any time thereafter. The end closure member and bottom closure member shown in the structure disclosed in Fig. 2, if they are to be used, may also be applied before or after removal from the machine, the bottom closure member being most conveniently attached before tightening the tie rod nut.

The structural members shown in Figs. 6, 7

curved'path and engaging said pair of holding members, the distance between said endportions being different from the spacin of the openings of one of said pair of spaced openings thereby to flex and bias said holding members relative to one another and into engagement with said grille members.

5. The combination, in a grille structure, of a plurality of parallel grille membershaving pairs of substantially aligned, spaced openings, spacer members positioned between and at intervals determined by said pairs of openings along the length of said grille members, each spacer member comprising a piece of sheet metal having opposite edges engaging adjacent grille members to hold them apart, a pair of flexible holding members disposed at each of said intervals extending through said spaced openings, transversely of said grille, members, and secured to the outermost of said grille members, each spacer member including an intermediate curved portion and end portions engaging the vcorresponde ing pair of holding members, the distance between said end portions being different from the spacing of the openings of one of said pairs of openings to maintain said spacer in a deformed condition against its own resilience whereby said holding members are flexed relative to one another and biased into engagement with said grille members'to hold said grille members against vibration.

6. The combination, in a prefabricated metal structure, of a plurality of parallel metal members having pairs of substantially aligned, spaced openings, a plurality of parallel, flexible holding members extending through said spaced openings of said metal members and at right angles thereto, said holding members being connected to the outer of said grille members and each pair of holding members bearing oppositely against said metal members to hold said metal members in a common plane of said structure, and a spacing device including a resilient intermediate portion and end portions gripping said holding members in a section thereof between each pair of metal members, the distance between said end portions being different from the spacing of the openings of one of said pairs of openings thereby to flex and bias said holding members relative to one another and against said metal members, and said spacing devices having shape to hold said metal members apart and in desired relation to said common planef '7. The combination, in a prefabricated structure adapted to resist vibration, a plurality of longitudinal members, having substantially aligned, spaced openings resilient spacer members positioned between said longitudinal members, a plurality of pairs of flexible transverse members extending through said openings of said longitudinal members and secured to the outermost of said longitudinal members, each of said spacer members having an intermedite curved portion and end portions in engagement with a pair of said transverse members, the distance between said end portions being different from the spacin of the openings of one of said pairs of opening thereby flexing and biasing said transverse members relative to one another and against said longitudinal members to prevent vibration therebetween, said spacer members having opposite portions holding said longitudinal members apart and in desired relation, and transverse tie mem- 8, ber binding said longitudinal members against said portions of said spacer members.

8. The combination, in a prefabricated structure adapted to resist vibration, a plurality of parallel members extending longitudinally of said structure and having pairs of substantially aligned, spaced openings, spacer members positioned between each pair of longitudinal members at intervals along the length thereof, trans verse tie rods holding said longitudinal members against said spacer members in a common plane, flexible, transverse antivibration members extending through said openings of said longitudinal members and secured to the outermost of said longitudinal members, said spacer including an intermediate, resilient portion and hooked end portions engaging a pair of said transverse antivibration members, the distance between said hooked end portions being less than the spacing of said pair of aligned, spaced openings thereby flexing said antivibration members against said longitudinal members to prevent vibration of said longitudinal members.

9. The combination, in a prefabricated structure adapted to resist vibration, a plurality of parallel members extending longitudinally of said structure, spacer members between each pair of longitudinal members at intervals along the length thereof, transverse tie rod holding said longitudinal members against said spacer members in a common plane, flexible transverse antivibration members engaging said longitudinal members at spaced points, and means to bind said antivibration members against said longitudinal members at each point of engagement therewith to prevent vibration of said longitudinal members, said last means comprising said spacer members, said spacer members having portions engaging said transverse members and a resilient portion connecting said first-mentioned portions, the distance between said first-,mentioned portions being related to the distance between said spaced points and the dimensions of said transverse members in accordance with a predetermined inequality thereby to flex and bias said transverse members relative to one another and against said longitudinal members.-

I 10. The combination, in a grille structure, of a plurality of grille members arranged side by side and having surfaces in parallel planes at a substantial angle to the plane of said grille structure and having pairs of substantially aligned, spaced openings, a plurality of resilient sheet metal spacer members, each of said spacer members being positioned between an adjacent pair of said grille members and each of said spacer members having opposite edges engaging the parallel surfaces of adjacent of said grille members to hold them apart, all of said spacer members lying in the same plane intersecting the plane of said grille members along said edges, a pair of flexible holding members extending through said pairs of aligned spaced openings, transversely of said grille members, and in engagement therewith, each of said sheet metal spacer members including an intermediate curved portion and end portions engaging said pair of holdingmembers, the distance between said end portions beingdifferent from the spacing of said pair of aligned, spaced openings thereby flexing and biasing said gelding members against said parallel grille memers.

11. The combination, in a grille structure, of a plurality of parallel planar grille members having substantially aligned, spaced openings, the planes of said grille members lying at substantially right angles to the plane of said structure, resilient spacer members extending edgewise between said grille members having edges e g ing opposed surfaces of said grille members to hold them apart, transverse, flexible antivibration members extending through said openings of said planar grille members and fixed against transverse movement relative to the outermost of said grille members, each of said resilient spacer members having an intermediate resilient portion and additional portions terminating said intermediate portion and engaging two of said antivibration members, the distance between said additional portions being of a dimension related to the distance between an associated pair of said openings and the dimensions of said antivibration members in accordance with a predetermined inequality, thereby to flex and bias said antivibration members against said grille members to prevent generation of noise between said members when said structure is subject to vibration.

12. The combination, in a grille structure, a plurality of parallel planar grille members having substantially aligned, spaced openings, the planes of said grille members lying at substantially right angles to the plane of said structure, resilient spacer members extending edgewise between opposed surfaces of said grille members and at such angles to the plane of the structure to hold said grille members apart and in desired relation, tie rods binding said grille members against opposite edges of said spacer members, and transverse, flexible antivibratio-n members extending through said openings of said grille members and fixed against transverse movement relative to the outermost of said grille members, said resilient spacer members including an intermediate portion and additional portions engaging a pair of said transverse antivibration members, the distance between said additional portions being of a dimension related to the distance between an associated pair of said openings and the dimensions of said antivibration members in accordance with a predetermined inequality whereby said antivibration members are flexed and biased against said grille members to prevent generation of noise therebetween when said grille structure is subject to vibration.

13. The combination, in a prefabricated structure, of a plurality of longitudinal members arranged in parallel having spacer means therebetween, transverse tie rods binding said longitudinal members against said spacer means, a pair of transverse, flexible .antivibration members positioned adjacent each of said spacer means, engaging each of said longitudinal members at spaced points and fixed against transverse movement with respect to the outermost pair of said longitudinal members, said spacer means comprising an intermediate resilient portion and end portions engaging said antivibration members, the distance between said end portions being related to the distance between said spaced points and the thickness of said antivibration members in accordance with a predetermined inequality thereby flexing and biasing said transverse members against said longitudinal members additionally to hold said longitudinal members against said spacer means.

14. The combination, in a prefabricated structure, of a plurality of longitudinal members arranged in parallel spacer means between each adjacent pair of longitudinal members in rows across said structure, transverse tie rods binding said longitudinal members against said spacer means, and flexible antivibration members extending transversely to said longitudinal members along each row of spacer means, engaging each of said longitudinal members at spaced points and fixed against transverse movement relative to the outermost pair of said longitudinal members, said spacer means comprising an intermediate resilient portion and end portions, the distance between said end portions being diiierent from any arithmetic combination of the distance between said spaced points and the dimensions of said antivibration members in a direction parallel to said longitudinal members thereby flexing and biasing said antivibration members against said longitudinal members.

15. In combination, a plurality of parallel grille members, having pairs of substantially aligned, spaced openings, a pair of flexible holding members extending through said pairs of aligned, spaced openings, transversely relative to said parallel grille members, and secured at their ends to the outermost of said grille members, a resilient, sheet-metal spacer positioned between a successive pair of said grille members maintaining said grille members in spaced relationship, said spacer including an intermediate curved portion and hooked end portions engaging said pair of holding members, the distance between said hooked end portions being less than the spacing of said pair of aligned, spaced openings thereby flexing and biasing said holding members toward one another and into engagement with said grille members.

16. In combination, a plurality of parallel grille members having pairs of substantially aligned, spaced openings, a pair of flexible holding members extending through said pairs of aligned, spaced openings, transversely relative to said parallel grille members, and secured at their ends to the outermost of said grille members, and a resilient, sheet metal spacer positioned between a successive pair of said grille members maintaining said grille members in spaced relationship, said spacer including an intermediate curved portion and end portions engaging said pair of holding members, the distance between said end portions being diiferent from the spacing of said pair of aligned, spaced openings thereby flexing and biasing said holding members relative to one another and into engagement with said grille members.

ALBERT J. FITZGERALD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 514,999 Klauke Feb. 20, 1894 673,580 Lustig May 7, 1901 2,187,620 Grossman et al. Jan. 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,997 Great Britain of 1888 

